KASSERINE PASS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1943, Page 3

KASSERINE PASS

AMERICAN & ENEMY LOSSES i IN LAST MONTH’S BATTLE DETAILS OF THE LATEST OPERATIONS. GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED IN NORTH. LONDON, March 11. The United States War Secretary, Mr Stimson, today gave particulars of the American casualties in Tunisia between February 14 and 20, the time of the German drive through the Kasserine Pass. Incomplete figures show that 59 Americans were killed and 176 wounded, while 2,007 are missing. The Axis lost 1,000 prisoners and 100 tanks. A communique reports fighting at a near point on the southern front, 55 miles south-west of Medenine. Casualties were inflicted on the enemy and many enemy vehicles were left burning. Fighting is continuing. During! the day the R.A.F. gave very effective support. A correspondent states that patrols have been active in the central sector. In Northern Tunisia the enemy launched a relatively small attack six miles west of Red Jenane village. The British First Army successfully repulsed this thrust, which was supported by dive-bombers and tanks. The British United Press correspondent says that though there is a comparative lull in the northern sector' our patrols are scoring successes. Troops who were sent out to recover two 105-milli-metre field guns which the Germans had abandoned, surprised an outpost and killed 13 men and captured 12 before seizing the guns. A German, patrol which ventured too near the Tamera-Jebel Aouid road was surrounded and wiped out. Reuter’s correspondent says that the Eighth Army is prodding what remains of Rommel’s forces withdrawing into the positions round the Mareth Line, after a battering from British guns in the weekend, in which some of our gunners fired for 20 hours without pause. The London “Evening Standard” says that the guns were responsible for stopping Rommel’s offensive; they blasted the German panzers so successfully that the British tanks did not need to go into battle. “Our gunners selected their armoured targets with the greatest deliberation,” the report says. “They held their fire till the German tanks were within a few hundred yards, and then poured armour-piercing shells into the enemy.”